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Two Dead, Dozens Wounded in Weekend Mass Shootings; Interview with Ned Price, State Department Spokesman: Russia's Recent Attacks Show a Campaign of Terror; Ivanna Klympush Tsintsadze, Member of Ukrainian Parliament: Russia's War on Ukraine and the Message from Pope Francis; Philly Business Owners File Lawsuit to Stop Indoor Mask Mandate. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired April 18, 2022 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:30:00]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: It was a violent Easter weekend in America. There were shootings at a pack house party, at a shopping mall, also at lounge hosting and Easter party.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: More than 90 shots were fired at that house party from multiple guns. CNN just received some video of the start of this shooting. We want to warn you it's disturbing and frightening.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(GUNSHOTS AND SCREAMING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: I mean, can you imagine being there, how horrible that was. This is the video that shows these frantic teenagers tripping over each other as they rushed for the door in Pittsburgh. At least ten people were shot at this party, including two juveniles who were killed. CNN crime and justice correspondent Shimon Prokupecz joins us now with the latest details. What happened? What are police saying here?

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: So, they're trying to figure out the motive. You know, you see from that video the frantic moment. Some of the teens there even jumped out of windows to try and escape that gunfire. And that's how some of them got hurt.

[15:35:00]

But this was a party with about 200 people there, mostly teens. And as you said, two 17-year-olds sadly were shot dead. Police don't know yet. What they do know is that there were as many as 100 gunshots now, they say. And they're basing that off the shell casings that they've recovered. And they say several different guns were used. So, it appears that there were multiple shooters and it could be just a fight between groups of people, you know, or a couple of people and then one person pulled out a gun and then another pulled out a gun. And so, that's what happened here. At least that's what police say.

As you said, there was a modified lockdown at the area schools. And they're still looking. There's a man hunt under way as police continue to look for the people behind this shooting.

BLACKWELL: Every Monday, Shimon, we do this. Every Monday. Shimon Prokupecz thank you.

Russia has signaled it may become more aggressive in its attempts to stop the delivery of weapons from the U.S. and NATO to Ukraine. And the State Department said recent Russia attacks further illustration that the Kremlin is undertaking a campaign of terror against the people of Ukraine.

With us know the State Department Spokesman, Ned Price. Ned, thank you for being with me. Let me start with that quote which was yours. Undertaking this campaign of terror. CNN is reporting that President Zelenskyy asked President Biden to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism. Is that going to happen?

NED PRICE, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: Well, Victor, we've done two primary things in response to Russia's aggression, Russia's war against the people of Ukraine and the state of Ukraine.

Number one, we've provided an unprecedented amount of security assistance in such a short time to Ukraine. To see to it that they can stand up to effectively fight back against Russia, to defend their country, defend their freedom, defend their democracy. But also, importantly, to hold Russia to account. Working with 30 countries across four continents to levee an unprecedented set of financial sanctions, export control measures, other steps to have an impact on the Russian economy and to bring Russia to the negotiating table as well.

We are looking at every authority, every tool that's available to us. We've already pulled many of those levers, again working with 30 countries across four continents. If there is another authority, if there's another tool that is available to us and effective for what we're trying to do, we won't hesitate to use it.

BLACKWELL: How about that declaration of a state sponsored terrorism though? Currently under list, Cuba, North Korea, Syria, Iran, will Russia be added to it?

PRICE: Well, as you know Victor, these tools are statutorily defined. We are taking a close look at the facts. We are taking a close look at the law and whether it is this authority, whether it's any other authority available to us under the law we will apply it if it's effective and appropriate. BLACKWELL: All right, let's turn to this note that came from Russia to the State Department a warning of unpredictable consequences should the U.S. continue to offer weapon support to Ukraine. What's the State Department's response to that?

PRICE: Well, I'm not in a position to speak to any specific correspondent between Russia and the department of state but here's what I can say. If the allegation on the part of Moscow is that we are providing unprecedented amounts of security assistance, $3.2 billion during the course of this administration, more than $2.5 billion since the start of the invasion alone. And that the Ukrainians are using this security assistance effectively to defend their country, well, then we're guilty as charged.

But in some ways the Russians shouldn't be surprised by this. Long before Putin's invasion of Ukraine began, we made clear that we would do three things. I've already mentioned two of them. We would support our Ukrainian partners with security assistance. We would hold Moscow to account with sanctions, export control measures and other steps. And we would reassure, reinforce NATO including on the eastern flank -- those countries that border Russia in particular. We have done all three of those things and we will continue to do all three of those things. No amount of bluster, no amount of bluffing from Moscow or any other country will be able to dissuade us from undertaking that strategy.

BLACKWELL: Let me ask you about what we heard from the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba who says that what happened in Mariupol and what continues to happen there may be a red line for negotiations with Russia. We also heard President Zelenskyy say that moving forward there will be no negotiation of giving away part of the country. Is a negotiated end to this war possible?

PRICE: Well, this is a question for our Ukrainian partners. It will be up to them --

BLACKWELL: But what do you believe? What does the State Department believe? Because there has been encouragement of continuing talks. Do you believe that talks can end this war?

[15:40:02]

PRICE: Well, and you also heard from Foreign Minister Kuleba yesterday that our Ukrainian partners continue to engage in discussions. Unfortunately, Victor, there's been one party that hasn't engaged in good faith. There's been one party that has just gone through the motions in an empty manner. Almost the pretense of diplomacy while the party has continued to bombard, to strike Ukraine's towns and cities. And of course, that's Russia.

Our Ukrainian partners are prepared to negotiate. They're prepared to engage in dialogue and diplomacy and we are continuing to support them. We're continuing to support them by strengthening there and at the negotiating table with the security assistance, with these accountability measures from Moscow in the hopes that we can do two things. Bring about an end to this conflict as quickly as possible and to see to it that however this ends, whenever this ends, this is a strategic defeat for the Kremlin.

BLACKWELL: The last one here for you Ned. Diplomats representing the European Union, France, Italy and now Spain has been added to the list that they're going to return to embassies at the capital in Kyiv. Is it time for the U.S. to return? If not, why not?

PRICE: Well, we are not going to delay one single second. When we assess that the security conditions will allow us to have a diplomatic presence on the ground in Ukraine, we will absolutely do that.

But here's the thing, Victor. Even though we don't have a diplomatic team on the ground right now, we have engaged continuously, regularly with our Ukrainian partners. President Biden spoke to President Zelenskyy last week. Secretary Blinken spoke to his Foreign Minister counterpart last week, Foreign Minister Kuleba. And even in recent weeks we've had an opportunity on several occasions to meet in person with Foreign Minister Kuleba of Ukraine.

We saw him on the margins of a NATO summit in Brussels just the other week. We saw him before that together with President Biden and Secretary of Defense Austin in Warsaw. We saw him a week or so before that inside sovereign Ukrainian territory when we were on the Polish/Ukrainian border. So, whether we have a diplomatic presence on the ground or not, that consultation, that close coordination will continue and as soon as we are able to have our team on the ground, you can bet that we will.

BLACKWELL: Well, we certainly heard the call from President Zelenskyy toward the symbolism to return to the capital. Other countries are heeding that call. And you say that when the security allows the U.S. will. Ned Price, State Department spokesman, thank you.

PRICE: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Ukrainian forces are still fighting Russian troops in Mariupol. One Ukrainian commander calling it, quote, hell on earth in letter to Pope Francis appealing for help. We have more on what the Pope and world can do, next.

[15:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: The port city of Mariupol continues to suffer relentless bombardment by Russia. The commander of that city's Marine brigade is now pleading with Pope Francis for help.

In a letter he writes, quote: You have probably seen a lot in your life. But I'm sure you have never seen what is happening in Mariupol. Because that's what hell on earth looks like -- women with children and babies live in bunkers. In hunger and cold every day being targeted by the enemy aviation. The wounded die every day because there is no medicine, no water, no food. The time has come when praying is not enough. Bring the truth to the world. Evacuate people and save their lives from the hands of Satan who wants to burn all living things. Joining us now is Ukrainian Parliament member Ivanna Klympush

Tsintsadze. She's the chair of the Committee of Ukraine's Integration into the European Union and a former deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine. Ms. Tsintsadze, thank you so much for being here. What can the Pope do to help the people in Mariupol? What can the world do? I mean, Mariupol and people there are surrounded.

IVANNA KLYMPUSH TSINTSADZE, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER: Well, thank you very much for having me. Yes, I think every single politician and definitely every religious leader of influence like the Pope can do a lot in order to try to get people out of the besieged, bombardment and locked Mariupol. And that would be something that would definitely be much stronger message than the message that was used unfortunately by the Vatican back on Good Friday when there was a symbol of so-called reconciliation when Ukrainian and Russian ladies had to bring the cross there.

Ukrainians were very much dissatisfied with that move because that was hurting our feelings of all religious people of all different religious religions here in Ukraine. But I think that the Pope can do more in terms of helping us to get with his Russian Orthodox counterpart to get their humanitarian corridors really, really open and stop the forcible deportation of Ukrainians to the Russian Federation.

[15:50:00]

And getting the specifically also with the Russian authorities with regard to exchange of innocent civilians, paramedics, medics who have been taken hostage by the Russians. I think all of this is possible. Which is the goodwill and engagement and resolve is necessary on the religious side

CAMEROTA: That's really helpful information. President Zelenskyy said yesterday that he is not willing to give up any territory. And as you know, Vladmir Putin seems hell bent on getting territory. Here's what President Zelenskyy said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Ukrainian the people of our state are absolutely clear. We don't want anyone else's territory and we are not going to give up our own.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: And so, if president Zelenskyy is not willing to give up any of his territory, and who could blame him, and that's exactly what Vladimir Putin wants, how does this end?

TSINTSADZE: Well, you have to understand that at this particular moment, I think the only target of negotiations or those talks that are being held at this particular moment can be threefold. I think it's the cease fire is the withdrawal of Russian troops from our Ukrainian territory, and exchange of hostages. That's probably it. When the ongoing shelling, when ongoing killing and continued occupation of our territories is happening.

But it can end only with the victory of Ukraine, with a common victory of the free world and Ukraine, with the defeat of Russian Federation. Because otherwise, if there is any other development of this war, we Ukrainians as a nation and as a state, do not have the chance for survival. So, for us, it's totally existential threat and existential choice and existential war.

We either have the country, we either preserve the nation, or we are going to be erased from the map of the world by Russian Federation, and that's what we are not going to allow. And that's why Ukrainian people, Ukrainian armed forces, Ukrainian territorial defense, Ukrainian volunteers, Ukrainian society as a whole will not allow that to happen. And so, I'm glad that President Zelenskyy is feeling this resolve on Ukrainian people and is translating it also to the world.

CAMEROTA: And are there real talks ongoing?

TSINTSADZE: My understanding is that Russia is using those conversations and those discussions that are being held as a smoke screen in order to prepare for yet another more severe level of attack. And that's what they have been already starting today, according to our military officials, our security officials already in Luhansk region. And with the continued shelling and pressure on the whole country, starting from Mariupol, from Kharkiv. Today there was attack on Lviv. We here in Kyiv, we are also living constantly under air alerts and unfortunately, some of the rockets have not been prevented by our air defense from also getting into targets, civilian, and infrastructure targets here in Kyiv.

So, the whole country continues to be attacked. So, at this particular moment, we do not see that Russian Federation is getting any easier on its demands and on its actions. And we should not get, expect that. And that's why we are asking for more urgently, heavy weaponry, more sanctions and support for Ukraine.

CAMEROTA: We're told that more weapons are arriving in the next 24 hours. Ivanna Klympush Tsintsadze thank you very much. We always appreciate talking to you. Stay safe.

TSINTSADZE: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: OK, meanwhile, back here, Philadelphia's indoor mask mandate is back. But some business owners are not having it. They've filed a lawsuit to end it. We have more on that ahead.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: In Philadelphia, masks are mandatory again today indoors and public places. This is because of a spike in new COVID cases there. And now some business owners and residents are suing.

CNN's Polo Sandoval is covering this for us from Philadelphia. So, tell us more about how people are responding -- Polo. POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you have to remember too,

Victor and Alisyn, that Philadelphia residents have been here before. This is the third masked mandate. In fact, the reprieve only lasted a couple of weeks and here they are again. Starting today they will have to wear masks in indoor public spaces. You're talking museums, and restaurants, really most public spaces.

Now there is sort of a way around it according to the city of Philadelphia. That's if a business can ensure that all of their occupants at their space are fully vaccinated. So, we'll have to see if some of the business choose to go in that direction. Because they now face -- some of these businesses will be faced with a very kind of a tough decision here. Do they basically require the vaccination card at the entrance or do they just make everybody wear a mask?

Now in terms of the reaction here on the ground -- as you mentioned over the weekend -- you did see some business owners and several individuals that came together filed suit against the city of Philadelphia hoping that the commonwealth of Philadelphia will overturn this mandate. Their argument is that the city is basically just not aligned with CDC guidance and it is overstepping their authority in terms of bringing back this masked mandate. And at the end of the day, you know, they're tired of it. They said it would affect business. So, we'll have to see how that plays out.

Also, they're keeping a very close eye on the legal fight in Florida. It's not just affecting mass transit here in Philadelphia but throughout the country. Of course, we're talking about the judge's decision to strike down that federal mask mandate that requires masking on buses, air planes and on mass transit. So, those are two legal cases they're watching very closely here in Philly -- guys.

BLACKWELL: Big impact. Polo Sandoval thank you.

So, this is the greatest story.

CAMEROTA: BLACKWELL: It's fantastic.

BLACKWELL: The gift of life from a real CNN heroin. CNN's senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth is receiving after a successful kidney transplant.

CAMEROTA: He is recovering as well. The donor is CNN colleague Samira Jafari and she works with our investigations unit. And they both appeared on CNN's "NEW DAY" today to talk about it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAMIRA JAFARI, DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR, CNN INVESTIGATES: I was moved by it. And I knew he was a CNN original and also just I had a great admiration for what he did as a journalist and who he was. And it just as a human just felt like something I could do at that point in my life.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: I'm very fortunate. I mean, there are 117,000 people looking for kidneys and livers and many people die each day.

[16:00:00]

I guess I could I only ask people who are like Samira or tend to lean that way, to think about donating to a friend or a relative.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Richard is the last CNN original who started with us in 1980. He's still in the hospital. Samira is resting at home.

CAMEROTA: And we look forward to seeing them back here as soon as possible. And "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.